Virginia: Better Oral Care for Cancer Survivors

Virginia Senate Health Insurance Chair Richard Saslaw and Representative Insurance Committee Chair Terry Gilgore

Better Oral Care for Cancer Survivors

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Hartford, Connecticut

To: Virginia Senate Health Insurance Chair Richard Saslaw and Representative Insurance Committee Chair Terry Gilgore
From: [Your Name]

As your Constituent, would you consider introducing a piece of legislation regarding access to dental care for cancer patients?

Oral complications are common in cancer patients. Chemotherapy can affect the salivary glands, thus causing them to reduce saliva production. A reduction in saliva production is xerostomia, also known as dry mouth. Saliva production is vital to oral hygiene because it helps prevent tooth decay. It neutralizes acid on teeth and gums, preventing it from attacking the tooth enamel causing cavities. Chemotherapy can affect the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the mouth. Dry mouth can allow harmful bacteria to attach to teeth and promote tooth decay along with mouth sores and other infections.

Dental pain from chemotherapy can affect the quality of life of cancer survivors. Preventing and controlling oral complications can help cancer survivors to have better lifetime health. Dental care legislation for cancer patients is needed to provide victims of cancer with the insurance coverage necessary for a better quality of life.

I urge you to introduce legislation in making sure insurance covers necessary dental procedures that are a result of cancer treatments.